U.S. patent application number 09/769327 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-20 for image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming stations, and unit detachably mountable on the apparatus.
Invention is credited to Kakeshita, Tomomi, Ogata, Hiroaki, Sasame, Hiroshi, Yamamoto, Shinya.
Application Number | 20010022900 09/769327 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18547412 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010022900 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sasame, Hiroshi ; et
al. |
September 20, 2001 |
Image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming
stations, and unit detachably mountable on the apparatus
Abstract
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that
has a plurality of image forming stations for forming an image on a
recording material, each of the plurality of image forming stations
having a memory, and writing device for writing data into the
memories, wherein when the image is formed on the recording
material without at least one of the image forming stations being
used, the writing device writes use data into the memory of the
station used and the memory of the station not used.
Inventors: |
Sasame, Hiroshi;
(Numazu-shi, JP) ; Ogata, Hiroaki; (Sunto-gun,
JP) ; Yamamoto, Shinya; (Numazu-shi, JP) ;
Kakeshita, Tomomi; (Mishima-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Family ID: |
18547412 |
Appl. No.: |
09/769327 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
399/25 ; 399/12;
399/13; 399/24; 399/26; 399/27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/506 20130101;
G03G 2215/0119 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
399/25 ; 399/24;
399/26; 399/27; 399/12; 399/13 |
International
Class: |
G03G 015/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 28, 2000 |
JP |
2000-020932 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of image
forming stations for forming an image on a recording material, each
of said plurality of image forming stations having a memory; and
writing means for writing data into said memories; wherein when the
image is formed on the recording material without at least one of
said image forming stations being used, said writing means writes
use data into said memory of the station used and said memory of
the station not used.
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at
least a portion of said image forming station and said memory are
detachably mountable on a main body of the apparatus as a unit.
3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein each of
said image forming stations has an image bearing member, charging
means for charging said image bearing member, image writing means
for writing an image on said image bearing member, and developing
means for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing
member, and said memory is made into a unit together with at least
said image bearing member.
4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a second image bearing member for bearing thereon the
image transferred from said image bearing member.
5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
image bearing members of said plurality of image forming stations
are in contact with said second image bearing member.
6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the use
data is data of number of prints.
7. A unit mounted on an image forming apparatus on which a first
unit and a second unit are mountable, said unit comprising: a
memory; wherein said memory stores therein the use data when an
image is formed by use of at least said first unit, and the use
data when an image is formed by use of not said first unit but said
second unit.
8. A unit according to claim 7, wherein said image forming
apparatus has first and second image forming stations and said unit
further comprises at least a portion of the image forming
stations.
9. A unit according to claim 8, wherein each of said image forming
stations has an image bearing member, charging means for charging
said image bearing member, image writing means for writing an image
on said image bearing member, and developing means for developing a
latent image formed on said image bearing member, and said memory
is made into a unit together with at least said image bearing
member.
10. A unit according to claim 7, wherein the use data are data of
numbers of prints.
11. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming station
for forming an image on a recording material, said image forming
station having a memory; and writing means for writing data into
said memory; wherein said image forming station can form an image
at at least two kinds of speeds, and said writing means writes use
data into said memory for each of the image forming speeds.
12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at
least a portion of said image forming station and said memory are
detachably mountable on a main body of the apparatus as a unit.
13. An image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said
image forming station has an image bearing member, charging means
for charging said image bearing member, image writing means for
writing an image on said image bearing member, and developing means
for developing a latent image formed on said image bearing member,
and said memory is made into a unit together with at least said
image bearing member.
14. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, further
comprising a second image bearing member for bearing thereon the
image transferred from said image bearing member.
15. An image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the
image bearing member of said image forming station is in contact
with said second image bearing member.
16. An image forming apparatus according to claim 11, where in the
use data is data of number of prints.
17. A unit detachably mountable on an image forming apparatus
capable of forming an image at at least two kinds of image forming
speeds, said unit comprising: a memory; wherein said memory stores
therein use data for each image forming speed.
18. A unit according to claim 17, wherein said image forming
apparatus has an image forming station, and said unit further
comprises at least a portion of the image forming station.
19. A unit according to claim 18, wherein said image forming
station has an image bearing member, charging means for charging
said image bearing member, image writing means for writing an image
on said image bearing member, and developing means for developing a
latent image formed on said image bearing member, and said memory
is made into a unit together with at least said image bearing
member.
20. A unit according to claim 17, wherein the use data is data of
number of prints.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as
a copier or a printer, and particularly to an image forming
apparatus for forming a layered image like a color image on a
recording material by the utilization of a plurality of image
forming stations and a unit detachably mountable on such
apparatus.
[0003] 2. Related Background Art
[0004] Reference is had to FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings to
describe an example of the construction of an image forming
apparatus of the electrophotographic type for obtaining
multicolored images, i.e., a so-called color image forming
apparatus.
[0005] The color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5 is a color
image forming apparatus of the so-called four-drum type, and a
rotary transferring member, i.e., an intermediate transferring belt
6 in the present example, is passed over a driving roller 7 and a
driven roller 8, and is rotated in the direction of arrow. Color
image forming stations Y, M, C and Bk for yellow, magenta, cyan and
black, respectively, are provided along the direction of movement
of the intermediate transferring belt 6, and accordingly, four
photosensitive drums 1 (1a to 1d) which are image bearing members
are disposed in succession on the upper side of the moving
intermediate transferring belt 6.
[0006] Around the photosensitive drums 1 (1a to 1d), there are
installed image forming means such as charging means 2 (2a to 2d),
laser scanners 3 (3a to 3d) as exposing means, and developing means
4 (4a to 4d) provided with developing rollers and containing
developers (toners) of the respective colors therein. The image
forming means of the respective colors are similar in construction
to one another with the exception that Y, M, C and Bk toners are
contained in the developing containers of the developing means 4a
to 4d. Also, the photosensitive drum 1, the charging means 2 and
the developing means 4 are made into a unit (cartridge) which is
detachably mountable on the main body of the apparatus.
[0007] Toner images of the respective colors developed on the
respective drums 1a to 1d by the developing means 4a to 4d are
successively transferred onto the intermediate transferring belt 6
by the use of transferring means 5 (5a to 5d), and a full color
image is obtained by the toners of four colors, i.e., yellow,
magenta, cyan and black.
[0008] In the color image forming apparatus in the present example,
no cleaning mechanisms are disposed around the photosensitive drums
1a to 1d, and this is because this apparatus adopts a cleaner
system for collecting untransferred toners by the developing means
4a to 4d simultaneously with developing, and thereby, the
downsizing and reduced cost of the apparatus become possible and
further, it becomes possible to extend the life of the
photosensitive drums because no cleaning blades frictionally
contact with the photosensitive drums.
[0009] Description will now be made of the image forming operation
of the color image forming apparatus constructed as described
above.
[0010] A laser beam modulated in conformity with image data from a
host apparatus such as a personal computer is applied by the
exposing means 3a to 3d to the surfaces of the photosensitive drums
1a to 1d uniformly charged by charging rollers which are the
charging means 2a to 2d, whereby desired electrostatic latent
images are formed for the respective colors. These latent images
are reversal-developed and visualized as toner images in developing
regions by the developing means 4a to 4d which are developing
apparatuses disposed in opposed relationship with the
photosensitive drums 1a to 1d and containing the toners of the
respective colors therein. These toner images are successively
transferred to the intermediate transferring belt 6, and are
further transferred to a recording medium P fed by sheet feeding
means (not shown) and conveyed by conveying means. These color
toner images are melted and fixed by a fixing apparatus (not
shown), and are permanently fixed on the recording medium P,
whereby a desired color print image is obtained.
[0011] In the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the
photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, charging means 2a to 2d and
developing means 4a to 4d which are the image forming means are
made integral with one another to assume the form of process
cartridges 10a to 10d as shown in FIG. 6 of the accompanying
drawings. The process cartridges 10a to 10d are made detachably
mountable on the main body of the apparatus by cartridge mounting
means (not shown).
[0012] In the color image forming apparatus of the above-described
construction, provision is made of means for detecting the amount
of remaining toner in each of the cartridges 10a to 10d, and when
the toner in a cartridge of a certain color has become null and
that cartridge has come to the end of its life, it is made possible
to continuedly use the apparatus by a user simply interchanging
that cartridge, and the maintenance by a serviceman as done in a
copier or the like becomes unnecessary.
[0013] Also, for example, the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d,
charging means 2a to 2d and developing means 4a to 4d which are
image forming means are made integral with one another to form
cartridges, whereby there is born the merit that stable and good
images free of inconvenience can always be obtained until the end
of the life of the cartridges and moreover, the user can easily
effect the interchange of any cartridge when it has come to the end
of its life.
[0014] However, in the color image forming apparatus of the
construction as described above, image formation using four colors
is not always effected, but image formation of single black color
is effected in the case of black-and-white images and besides,
image formation by various modes such as a two-color mode using
only yellow and magenta, and a three-color mode using yellow,
magenta and cyan is effected.
[0015] That is, there are a four-color mode using four colors, a
three-color mode using only three colors of four colors, a
two-color mode using only any two colors of four colors, and a
single color mode using any one of four colors.
[0016] Here, the single color mode will be described as an example.
Usually, image formation (printing) is effected in a full color
mode (four-color mode), and a speed difference is given between the
photosensitive drums and the intermediate transferring belt to
thereby secure a good transferring property and obtain a good
image.
[0017] Next, when for example, a monochromatic image of a single
black color is to be formed, the other image forming means than for
black are not operated, and a similar image forming operation is
performed with the intermediate transferring belt 6 and the
photosensitive drums 1a to 1c spaced apart from one another by a
mechanism, not shown. In this case, however, the construction of
the apparatus becomes complicated and the cost thereof becomes very
high or the apparatus becomes bulky.
[0018] So, in the case of the single black mode, it is practised
that the intermediate transferring belt 6 is not spaced apart and
the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b and 1c of the other colors continue
to be rotated. In this case, there is not the problem of the
increased cost of the apparatus, but yet it is conceivable that not
only the photosensitive drum 1d concerned in image formation but
the drums 1a to 1c not concerned in image formation are worn by the
intermediate transferring belt 6 and the end of the life of the
photosensitive drums is hastened.
[0019] In such a case, the black cartridge is concerned in image
formation and therefore, it has been relatively easy to control the
life thereof and it can be precisely reported to the user, but the
cartridges of the other colors are not concerned in image formation
and therefore, an error has occurred to the time for controlling
the life thereof and the end of the life could not be sometimes
precisely reported to the user.
[0020] Also, there have been cases where when a problem has arisen
on the part of the user, the reason therefor cannot be understood
well even if an attempt is made to analyze why the problem has
arisen.
[0021] Further, in the color image forming apparatus of the
above-described construction, a system for changing the process
speed, like e.g. OHP sheets, and making transmissivity good has
been put into practical use.
[0022] In such a case, there is no problem if there can be adopted
such a construction that only the speed of the fixing apparatus is
changed, but the downsizing and lower cost of the apparatus are
sought after, whereby the distance between the transferring means
and the fixing apparatus cannot be made as long as the size of e.g.
OHP sheet and therefore, there has been proposed a system for
changing the process speed of the image forming operation itself
(the image forming speed).
[0023] Again in the color image forming apparatus of such a
construction, each constituent portion is designed so as not to
affect the life of the photosensitive drums as much as possible,
but the influence cannot be completely eliminated, and though
slightly, the life of the photosensitive drums is affected, or has
been affected by an accident, for example, the use of unexpected
OHP sheets or the like.
[0024] In such a case, heretofore, an error occurred when the life
was controlled and it could not sometimes be precisely reported to
the user.
[0025] Also, when there arose a problem on the part of the user,
there was a case where the reason for the problem could not be
understood well even if an attempt was made to analyze it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The present invention has been made in view of the
above-noted problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image
forming apparatus which is high in cartridge life control
accuracy.
[0027] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
image forming apparatus comprising:
[0028] a plurality of image forming stations for forming an image
on a recording material, each of the plurality of image forming
stations having a memory; and
[0029] writing means for writing data into the memories;
[0030] wherein when the image is formed on the recording material
without at least one of the image forming stations being used, the
writing means writes use data into the memory of the station used
and the memory of the station not used.
[0031] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a unit mounted on an image forming apparatus on which a first unit
and a second unit are mountable, the unit comprising:
[0032] a memory;
[0033] wherein the memory stores therein the use data when an image
is formed by use of at least the first unit, and the use data when
an image is formed by use of not the first unit but the second
unit.
[0034] Yet still another object of the present invention is to
provide an image forming apparatus comprising:
[0035] an image forming station for forming an image on a recording
material, the image forming station having a memory; and
[0036] writing means for writing data into the memory;
[0037] wherein the image forming station can form an image at at
least two kinds of speeds, and the writing means writes use data
into the memory for each of the image forming speeds.
[0038] Still a further object of the present invention is to
provide a unit comprising:
[0039] a memory;
[0040] wherein the memory stores therein use data for each image
forming speed.
[0041] Further objects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following detailed description when read with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] FIG. 1 shows the general construction of an embodiment of an
image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 2 schematically shows the construction of an embodiment
of a process cartridge according to the present invention.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows the general construction of another embodiment
of the image forming apparatus according to the present
invention.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows the general construction of still another
embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present
invention.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows the general construction of an image forming
apparatus according to the prior art.
[0047] FIG. 6 schematically shows the construction of a process
cartridge according to the prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] An image forming apparatus according to the present
invention and a cartridge detachably mountable on this image
forming apparatus will hereinafter be described in greater detail
with reference to the drawings.
[0049] Embodiment 1
[0050] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the image forming apparatus
according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the image
forming apparatus of the present invention is similar in
construction to the color image forming apparatus of the in-line
type previously described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, and the
constructionally and functionally same members are given the same
reference characters and need not be described in detail.
[0051] Again in the electrophotographic color image forming
apparatus according to the present embodiment, photosensitive drums
1a to 1d, charging means 2a to 2d and developing means 4a to 4d
which are image forming means of respective colors are made
integral with each other to assume the form of process cartridges
10(10a to 10d) as shown in FIG. 2. These process cartridges 10a to
10d are detachably mounted with respect to cartridge mounting means
(not shown) provided in the main body of the image forming
apparatus by the user.
[0052] In the color image forming apparatus according to the
present embodiment, no cleaning means are disposed around the
photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, as described above, and this is
because this apparatus adopts the cleaner system for collecting
untransferred toners by the developing means simultaneously with
developing. However, it is also possible to provide cleaning means
provided with cleaning blades, and integrally incorporate such
cleaning means also into the process cartridge 10a to 10d.
[0053] According to the present invention, memory means 20 (20a to
20d) are carried on the respective process cartridges l0a to
10d.
[0054] As the memory means, i.e., memories 20, used in the present
invention, use can be limitlessly made of ordinary electronic
memories by semiconductors such as a combination of nonvolatile
memories or volatile memories and backup batteries. Particularly,
when the memories 20 are non-contact memories which effect data
communication between the memories 20 and readout/write-in IC by an
electromagnetic wave, the cartridge side transmitting portion and
the main body control portion may be in non-contact with each other
and therefore, the possibility of bad contact depending on the
mounted state of the process cartridge 10 becomes null and highly
reliable control can be effected.
[0055] Description will now be made of the four-color (full color
mode) image forming operation of the color image forming apparatus
of the above-described construction.
[0056] A laser beam modulated in conformity with image data from a
host apparatus such as a personal computer is applied, by the
exposing means 3a to 3d, to the surfaces of the photosensitive
drums 1a to 1d uniformly charged by charging rollers which are the
charging means 2a to 2d, whereby desired electrostatic latent
images are formed for the respective colors.
[0057] These latent images are reversal-developed in developing
regions and visualized as toner images by the developing means 4a
to 4d which are developing apparatuses disposed in opposed
relationship with the photosensitive drums and containing toners of
the respective colors therein. These toner images are successively
transferred to an intermediate transferring belt 6 as a
transferring member in the order of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan
(C) and black (Bk), and color toner images are formed on the
intermediate transferring belt 6. According to the present
invention, at this time, the numbers of prints are stored in the
memories 20a to 20d installed in the respective cartridges 10a to
10d.
[0058] The toner images on the intermediate transferring belt 6 are
transferred to a recording medium P fed by sheet feeding means, not
shown, and conveyed by conveying means. The color toner images on
the recording medium P are melted and fixed by a fixing apparatus,
not shown, and are permanently fixed on the recording medium P,
whereby a desired color print image is obtained.
[0059] When in the above-described color image forming apparatus,
image formation (printing) by a black single color mode is to be
effected, the black station, i.e., the black process cartridge,
effects image formation as usual, but the other color stations,
i.e., the process cartridges 10a, 10b and 10c of yellow, magenta
and cyan which are non-print colors, do not effect image formation.
In the present embodiment, however, the intermediate transferring
belt 6 is not designed to be spaced apart to a released position
and therefore, all the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d are rotated
while being in contact with the belt 6.
[0060] As described above, in the non-print color stations Y, M and
C, the image forming operation including charging and exposure is
not performed and therefore the damage to the photosensitive drums
is much smaller than in the black station Bk which effects image
formation, but the photosensitive drums 1a, 1b and 1c are rotated
and in fact, there is more or less influence.
[0061] Thus, according to the present embodiment, in the case of
the above-described black single color mode, the number of black
prints is stored in the memory 20d of the process cartridge 10d for
black, and "the numbers of sheets printed in the other colors" are
also stored in the memories 20a, 20b and 20c of the process
cartridges 10a, 10b and 10c for the other colors, i.e., yellow,
magenta and cyan.
[0062] As the contents of memory to be stored, for example, in the
memories 20a, 20b and 20c of the process cartridges 10a, 10b and
10c for yellow, magenta and cyan, the number of sheets printed by
the use of the magenta cartridge 10b and the number of sheets
printed by the black single color mode although the magenta
cartridge 10b is not used for printing are stored, for example, in
the memory 20b of the magenta cartridge 10b.
[0063] If the information stored in the memory 20b of the magenta
cartridge 10b is utilized, and if it is known in advance that "when
for example, 1,000 sheets are printed by the black single color
mode, the degree of consumption of the photosensitive drum of the
magenta cartridge becomes the same as that when it has been used
for a sheet", it will become possible to accurately represent the
life of the magenta cartridge 10b by using this coefficient. Such
information can be displayed, for example, on the display means of
the image forming apparatus, or can be transmitted to and displayed
on the display means of a host computer or the like.
[0064] Also, even if the above-mentioned information is not used
for the calculation of the life of the magenta cartridge 10b, when
the badness of the magenta cartridge 10b happens to the user and
the cartridge is returned, it becomes easy to analyze the badness
by the above-mentioned information.
[0065] Embodiment 2
[0066] While in Embodiment 1, description has been made of the
image formation by the black single color mode, the description
also holds true of the image formation by the two-color mode and
the three-color mode, and when image formation is to be effected by
the two-color mode using, for example, cyan and magenta, the
numbers of sheets on which image formation has been effected in the
other colors are pre-stored in the memories 20a and 20d of the
process cartridges 10a and 10d for yellow and black. That is, at
least the number of prints when image formation has been effected
by the use of the yellow cartridge and the number of prints when
image formation has been effected without the use of the yellow
cartridge are stored in the memory 20a of the yellow cartridge.
Likewise, two kinds of numbers of prints are stored in the memory
20d of the black cartridge.
[0067] Again in the present embodiment, an operational effect
similar to that of Embodiment 1 can be achieved.
[0068] Embodiment 3
[0069] This embodiment will be described with respect to a case
where the image forming apparatus has image forming modes by a
plurality of image forming speeds. According to the present
embodiment, in the image forming apparatus described in Embodiment
1, OHP is used as the recording medium P.
[0070] For OHP, in order to make the light transmissivity after
fixing good, image formation is effected with the process speed
(image forming speed) of the entire apparatus reduced to 1/3 of the
ordinary process speed.
[0071] According to the present embodiment, when image formation
has been effected with OHP used as the recording medium P, it is
stored in the memories 20a to 20d of the respective process
cartridges that image formation has been effected at a speed of
1/3. As a matter of course, the memories 20a to 20d also store
therein the numbers of prints at the ordinary speed.
[0072] By such a construction, as in Embodiment 1, it becomes
possible to accurately control the life of the cartridges. Also,
even if a problem has arisen on the part of the user, it becomes
useful for the analysis as to why the badness has happened.
[0073] Also, the number of prints when the cartridges have been
used and the number of prints when the cartridges have not been
used as shown in Embodiments 1 and 2 may be stored for each process
speed.
[0074] Embodiment 4
[0075] While in Embodiment 3, the case where OHP is used as the
recording medium P has been shown, particularly in the color image
forming apparatus, there are also a thick paper mode by which even
thick paper can be properly fixed, and a high gloss mode which is
used when it is desired to gloss.
[0076] These are designed such that in the image formation by any
mode, fixing is sufficiently effected with the process speed
reduced to e.g. 1/2. Again in the image formation by these modes,
as in Embodiment 3, it is stored in the memories 20a to 20d of the
process cartridges 10a to 10d that image formation has been
effected at a speed of 1/2.
[0077] By such a construction, as in Embodiment 1, it becomes
possible to accurately control the life of the cartridges. Also,
even if a problem has arisen on the part of the user, it becomes
useful for the analysis as to why the badness has happened.
[0078] Embodiment 5
[0079] While in each of the above-described embodiments, the
process cartridges 10 (10a to 10d) in the image forming apparatus
of the present invention have been described as the photosensitive
drums 1a to 1d, the charging means 2a to 2d, the developing means
4a to 4d and further, cleaning means made integral with one
another, this is not restrictive, but the process cartridges 10
(10a to 10d), as described above, may be at least the developing
means 4a to 4d and the electrophotographic photosensitive bodies 1a
to 1d integrally made into cartridges which are detachably
mountable with respect to the main body of an electrophotographic
image forming apparatus.
[0080] Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present
invention, as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to use cartridges 10a
to 10d in which only the developing means 4a to 4d are detachably
mountable with respect to the main body of the image forming
apparatus.
[0081] Also, while in the above-described embodiments, the
transferring member 6 for transferring thereto the toner images on
image bearing members such as the photosensitive drums 1a to 1d has
been described as an intermediate transferring member such as the
intermediate transferring belt to which the toner images on the
image bearing members are transferred, the present invention is not
restricted thereto, but as shown in FIG. 4, use can also be made of
a transferring member such as a transferring belt for carrying
thereon and conveying the recording medium P to which the toner
images on the image bearing members are transferred.
[0082] The present invention is not restricted to the
above-described embodiments, but covers all modifications within
the technical idea of the invention.
* * * * *